The Coupeville High School girls basketball team played twice on the road this week, winning the game it needed the most, a 55-28 conference tilt over Chimacum Tuesday, Jan. 19, but losing the chance to pad its resume when it fell 40-32 to eighth-ranked Bellevue Christian Wednesday in a non-conference matchup.

With the Chimacum win, the Wolves remain perfect (3-0) in Olympic League play. The loss to BC dropped Coupeville’s season record to 9-4.

The eight-point loss to the Vikings was Coupeville’s largest of the season; the other three came by a combined nine points. One of those losses was to seventh-ranked Mount Baker, 50-47.

When Coupeville bussed to Bellevue Christian (13-1) Wednesday, it was the third time this year it had road games on back-to-back nights.

The clash between two good teams had “a playoff atmosphere to it,” according to coach David King.

“This was more of a heavyweight bout with both teams going toe to toe all game,” he added.

Coupeville played a chunk of the game without its heaviest hitter, Makana Stone, who sat in foul trouble.

Tiffany Briscoe scored four points and Coupeville led 8-5 after one period.

The Vikings, attacking the hoop off the dribble, scored 10 points in the second quarter and evened the score at 15 at halftime.

Freshman Lindsey Roberts started for Stone, who had three fouls, in the second half and scored four points in the third quarter, Kailey Kellner popped in a three-pointer and Mia Littlejohn sank two foul shots, but Bellevue Christian led 28-24 going into the fourth quarter.

King liked the play of Roberts, who was “aggressive on the boards” and finished with 10 rebounds, four on offense.

Stone went back to the bench with a fourth foul early in the final quarter, and the Vikings built a 10-point lead.

The Wolves got within four, 34-30, halfway through the quarter but managed only two points the rest of the way.

Stone and Littlejohn both fouled out late.

“The energy was much better tonight,” King said, in reference to a lackluster performance in the win over Chimacum. “We proved we can play with a team like Bellevue Christian.

“To get over the hump we need to do a better job on defense and not let them drive into the key. We also had 23 turnovers.”

Stone had 12 points, Littlejohn six, Roberts four, Briscoe four, Kellner three and Lauren Grove three.

Stone also had 10 rebounds, four steals and four blocks. Grove added three steals and Littlejohn two assists.

Eight Vikings scored; none had more than eight points.

Although the Wolves thumped Chimacum, “We weren’t playing our best,” King said.

After a slow start, Coupeville picked up its offense several minutes into the game. Stone, with seven points, and Littlejohn, with four, “got more aggressive,” King said, to get things going.

Lauren Grove added a bucket and Kellner drilled a three-pointer and the Wolves led 15-4 at the end of the opening period.

Coupeville’s defense in the quarter was “stellar,” according to King.

Stone tacked on 11 points and Coupeville upped its lead to 29-11 at halftime.

Six Wolves scored in the third period as Coupeville improved its movement on offense, King said, and its lead to 43-15.

Reserves played most of the fourth quarter, including Skyler Lawrence who dropped in her first varsity points.

Stone had 22 points, 16 rebounds (12 on offense), five steals, four assists and a block.

Kellner finished with 11 points and three steals;  Littlejohn had seven points, five steals and three assists; and Briscoe collected two points and seven rebounds.

Grove and Lawrence each scored four points; Kyla Briscoe and Allison Wenzel two apiece; and Roberts one.

Nicole Cerna tallied 11 for the Cowboys (0-3, 3-11).

Coupeville entertains Port Townsend (1-2, 3-9) at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22.